Wellesley Loop winter hike - December 24, 2025

HIKE REPORT 

Wednesday, 24 December 2025, 

Wellesley Loop winter hike 

Hike Leader: Susan Sabin 

~4 miles, 10:00 am start from Wellesley, MA 

Hikers (8): Susan, Elsa Lawrence, Greg Stathis, Janet Miller, Margie Lee, Mark Baskin, Peggy Gelin, and Tony Lee

‘‘Twas the day before Christmas and there was snow on the grasses.

Two registrees got cold feet and sat on their @#$%&.
The eight who braved the wind and cold, 
stayed warm and toasty, I’ve been told. 
The wind seemed to stay in the proper direction,
as we made our way from section to section.  
The lunch break was welcome, I’ll tell you that,
tho we missed Elsa in the chat.
It was truly great to get out on this day,
as it always is when the Wheelers go out to play.  

 Report by Susan Sabin.

Callahan State Park South Side early winter hike - December 17, 2025

HIKE REPORT

 

Wednesday, 17 December 2025, Callahan State Park South Side early winter hike

Hike Leaders:  Margie & Tony Lee

3.4 miles, 10:00 am start from Callahan SP parking lot, Framingham

 

Hikers (14):  Margie, Tony, Annemarie Altman, Barbara Jacobs, Gerry Sheetoo, Janet Miller, Judy Perrin, Lynell Stromberg, Marie Keutmann, Richard Vignoni, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, and Tod Cochran.

 

We hiked from Callahan's Edmands Street parking lot on the Pipeline trail and turned onto SVT's Baiting Brook trail just before the big hill.  We meandered through the woods and then crossed the Pipeline trail and descended to Deer Run and Birch trails.  We proceeded on Chickadee and Rocky Road, where we admired a NEMBA volunteer-built walking bridge. Finally, we hiked Red Tail, Wren, and Pioneer trails back to the parking lot.

 

The parking lot was icy, but the trails were well-travelled with only a dusting of snow.  Eleven of us drove to Franco's Trattoria in Sudbury's Mill Village shopping center for very fresh salads, pizza and sandwiches.

 

Report (and photo) by Margie Lee.

 

Exploring Wellesley, North of Route 9 - December 10, 2025

 HIKE REPORT

Wednesday, 10 December 2025, An early winter hike - Exploring Wellesley, North of Route 9

Hike Leader:  Susan Sabin

~5 miles, 10:00 am start from Wellesley, MA

Hikers (13):  Susan, Aiko Pinkowski, Barbara Jacobs, Dee Galacki, Elsa Lawrence, Lynell Stromberg, Marie Keutmann, Phyllis Evan, Susan Broome, Ted Nyder, Tod Cochran, and first-timers Joyce Bailey and Steve Caplow.

The day was mild with no annoying SUN from which to shield our eyes.  Sandwiched as it was between wintery, gusty days on both ends, we got the pick of the week.  Although we were missing several registered hikers (I later found two last minute online cancellations), we took to the trail on time.  The route - in woods, on streets, over route 9, then back in woods, on streets, and finally alongside the raging Charles River to our rest and turn-around spot - was varied and had something for everyone.  

We took a short break near the picnic benches where Washington visited many moons ago, and the day was so mild that everyone snacked and chatted outdoors, before heading back (street, trail, over Route 9, street, trail.  The five miles flew by with so many great folks to talk to.

Report by Susan Sabin.                    Photo by Elsa Lawrence.

Adams & Wright Woods hike - December 3, 2025

 HIKE REPORT

 

Wednesday, 3 December 2025, Adams & Wright Woods hike

Hike Leader:  Marie Keutmann

~5.5 miles, 10:00 am start from Lincoln, MA

Hikers (13):  Marie, Barbara Jacobs, Barbara Martin, Greg Stathis, Janet Miller, Judy Perrin, Keren Hamel, Melissa Norton, Phyllis Evan, Susan Broome, Susan Sabin, Ted Nyder, and first-timer Amy Juodawlkis.

Thirteen hikers met at Red Rail Farm in Lincoln.   The hikers set out through the woods along the many ups and downs of the kettle holes left behind by glacial activity.   We walked around a bicycle race track (velodrome) that is the sole visible remains of a late 1800’s fairground which people reached by steam locomotive on the Fitchburg line.  At the velodrome, I gave a brief talk about the history of the fairgrounds (see the links below) before we walked around the perimeter of the track.

We then worked our way over to a route along the Sudbury River and Fairhaven Bay, with great views of the water, as well as a large stone chimney and stone boathouse.  From there it was back into the woods and back to our cars.  The crisp temps and bright skies made for a great day of hiking.

Thanks to Barbara Jacobs for helping me navigate the route and to Janet for sweeping.  Thanks also to Richard Vignoni who arrived early to direct people on where to park.  Unfortunately, due to an injury, Richard was unable to do the hike.

Six hikers stayed for lunch in the greenhouse at Verrill Farm.

Report by Marie Keutmann.

Additional Information on Racetrack and Fairgrounds:

The bicycle race track was part of the fairgrounds from the late 1800s.  The track is about 500 feet in circumference and has a pronounced bank on one end.  In its heyday, the fairground included a dance hall, restaurant, baseball field, race track, and amusements.  On weekends, people flocked by the thousands to “Lake Walden” on the Fitchburg train line to go boating, swimming, and use the fairgrounds.  The fairgrounds were built by the owners of the railroad to encourage ridership.  There were several fires over the years, likely due to sparks from the steam locomotives, so in the early 1900s it ceased to exist.   Today, the only visible remains are the race track and cleared ground between the trees.

Online Exhibition of Walden Pond images

Information on Wright woods where we hiked

Around, About, and Along Morse's Pond - November 19, 2025

HIKE REPORT Wednesday, 19 November 2025, Around, About, and Along Morse's Pond Hike Leader: Susan Sabin 4 miles, 10:00 am start from Wellesley, MA Hikers (8): Susan, Aiko Pinkoski, Don Mannes, Joyce Bailey, Marie Keutmann, Susan Broome, Ted Cochran, and first-timer Dee Galacki. Eight hikers met for a sunny but chilly 4 mile walk on the crosstown trails of Wellesley. The trails begin along the mostly out-of-sight commuter rail line to Worcester. Once we reached the paved road leading to the beach, we chose to cross it and turned northerly, walking parallel to the aqueduct that heads towards Weston. We followed both major (wide) and minor (narrow) trails through the woods to route 9, where we u-turned and headed back to the charming, little-known neighborhood of beach cottages that border Morse’s Pond. There we followed a spiderweb of narrow streets to a trail that led back into the woods, eventually emerging onto the car access road to Morse’s Pond beach. (This road is closed during the winter.) After returning to our cars, 100% of us met about a half-mile away for a great lunch at “Sweet Greens.” We all agreed that the weather and the company were perfect for a walk in the woods. Report by Susan Sabin.

Annual Circling Wachusett Foliage Ride - October 15, 2025

 RIDE REPORT

Wednesday, 15 October 2025, Annual Circling Wachusett Foliage Ride

Ride Leader:  Clyde Kessel

37.6 mi, 10:00 am start from Sterling, MA

Riders (7):  Clyde, Barbara Martin, Ed Hill, Ellen Gugel, Greg Stathis, Wing Chow, and first-timer Jim French.  [Barbara and Greg remoted from an undisclosed location in Lancaster.]

 

It was a brisk day with a brisk wind and we (almost) all had the route on our GPS devices, so we (almost) all agreed to dispense with human arrows for the day.  Barbara and Greg were, however, appointed to be co-sweeps.   In the end, Greg did arrow a few of the turns (how does the sweep arrow a turn?).  The ride leader, on a recumbent, on a hilly route, did not spend much of the day at the front of the pack, and he was the last and slowest one up Mountain Road.  The group didn’t get very spread out because the folks in front stopped to wait at the tops of hills.

 

This particular ride starts with a long climb, which is great to warm you up on a brisk morning.  It ends with a matching three-mile descent which is great, just because.  At one point during the ride, half the group stopped to watch a flock of starlings cavorting while the other half rode ahead and waited out in the middle of a three-way intersection.

 

We had a tail wind on the way up Mountain Road, so several of us complained about getting overheated, then chilled, at the visitor center.  No-one opted to climb to the summit.  Several riders thought going down Pine Street would be unpleasant and unsafe, so we opted to go down Merriam Street instead.

 

After most of us had arrived at the finish, Barbara phoned to say her wheel had locked up on the final descent.  There was no accident and no injury, and Barbara showed up shortly afterwards after diagnosing and fixing a problem with her fender.

 

Thanks to everyone for showing up.

 

Ride report by Clyde Kessel.

Merrimack River and Newburyport - October 1, 2025

 RIDE REPORT

Merrimack River and Newburyport - October 1, 2025

Ride Leader:  Tom Allen

~37 mi, 10:00 am start from Newbury, MA

Riders (8):  Tom, Frank Aronson, Jim Campen, Richard French, Shawn Corr, Wing Chow, and first-timers David Rotman (friend of Frank) and Stephen Epstein.

Our start was a little delayed awaiting latecomers.  (Shawn—not a latecomer—took the train from Boston as his car was unavailable.)  As we were about to set out at about 10:15, Frank said his electronic shifter was uncharged.  So he was locked into a single speed bike.  Fortunately this was a relatively flat ride, with only a couple of climbs that were short enough for him to walk.  The flatness of the ride was offset by headwinds in parts of the route, so the rest of us were happy to have working shifters while Frank got a good workout. 

Did I mention that the day was absolutely gorgeous with clear blue skies and blue waters of the Merrimack?  A feast for the eyes.  We stopped briefly on Plum Island to see the large waves rolling in from the Atlantic storms.

Newburyport maintains bike trails and we rode on a couple of them.  They're decorated with various art pieces and provide a change of pace on a long(ish) ride. 

Lunch was enjoyed at the Port City Sandwiches shop.  Two folks didn't have time to stay and headed back to the parking lot on their own.  Shawn headed back up the trail to the railroad station.  The rest of us had a pleasant ride back to our cars.

Report by Tom Allen.